Show-case.



UNITE STATES Fries.

ATENT SHOW-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PateutNo. 692,670, dated February 4, 1902.

AppnmiontiefiJanum-y'le,1901. sesamo. 43,911. Nomode1.)

To @ZZ La7/1,0711, t may concern:

Beit known that I, LAWRENCE J. JOHNSON,

` a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Kansas Oity, Jackson county, Missouri, have invented a new and useful Show-Oase, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to-improvements in show-cases, and has for its object to improve the construction and appearance of the saine in a manner that will hereinafter appear.

. In show-cases as generally constructed the glass plates are held in place at the cornerposts by strips or stops, which are tacked lin place from the inside of the ease after the glass has been put in place. This construction primarily lacks rigidity and firmness prerequisites of a `good case. Moreover, itis impossible to fit these strips or stops accuratelyenoughtoentirelyexcludedust. Therefore the case must be constantly cleaned in order to keep the case` in a presentable ap,- pearance. The amount of wood used in these cases not only makes a clumsy appearance, but the mannerin which the wood is employed allows the same to work loose from constantly opening and closing the doors, as well as other causes. Another method of making show-cases is to discard the wooden cornerposts entirely and :rely upon either metallic corner-clasps or upon cementin g the glass corners together. The type of casein which the clasps are used is not only very expensive to produce, but issubject to damage or destruc tion by settling of the floors orother foundation upon which it rests, as all the strain` is centered upon the glass in the immediate vicinity of-the clasps. Cases made by cementing the corners of the glass together and eliminating the Woodv entirely are very unreliable, as the joints'iinvariably loosen or break the glass underthe influence ofthe atmosphere or other causes. Moreover, these cases offer a very cold and uninviting appearance, thus detracting very much from their value. By myinvention these disadvantages are overcome entirely, while the cost of production is much decreased from that of the all-glass case. Cases constructed in accordance with my invention contain just enough wood to form a solid structure and to make a neat and. pleasing appearance, and this post 7.

wood is employed to the best possible advantage, as will hereinafter appear.

In order to more fully explain my said invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which YFigure l represents a perspective View of' the completed case. Fig. 2 is a central horizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the case looking toward the rear. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken on the line IV IV, Fig. 5. Fig., 5 is a similar view taken onthe line VV, Fgfe;

and Fig. G is a broken sectional view takenA thereof are secured doWel-pins 5, projecting upwardly in the recess 6 ofthe round cornercase is preferably not over one-half an inch in diameter. The rear corner posts or standards 8 are preferably rectangular in crosssection to accommodate the width of the two sliding doors. corner-posts 7 8 is placed a narrow rectangu- This corner-post in an ordinary-sized Upon the top of these four,

lar strip 9 and is suitablyfastened upon the tops of the four corner-posts when the glass is in position. Upon the upper side of this frame 9 is cemented a heavy strip` of f elt 10 or the like, which is in turnicemented to the glass top plate 11. This felt strip is preferably formed of such material and nature that *shouldl it be desired to remove the top plate.

it is simply necessary to insert a knife-blade or the like in the middle of the strip and separate itinto two halves. In replacingthe top plate the two halves of the felt strip are removed from the frame 9. and plate 1l, respectively, and a new one substituted therefor. l2 represents the front glass plate of the case, and 13 the two end plates. These plates are secured in position in the following manner: The corner-posts T and 8 are provided with vertical grooves li l-i, extendingi'rom top to bottom of the same. These grooves are ot such a width as to form a tight sliding Iit with the glass plates 13 and 123. These glass plates 12 and 13 are inserted in place Afrom the top, while the top plate 1l and frame i) are removed by sliding the same into place from the top of the grooves and not from the inside of the case, as heretofore. It` desired, these grooves 1i may be provided with any suitable cement to form a solid joint; but ordinarily this will be unnecessary. This method of inserting the glass in the case is a very important feature. Should it become necessary to replace a glass for any reason, it will notibe necessary to remove the contents oi' the case, as is now required; but the plate and t'ramell and 9, respectively,are removed and the new glass slid into place from the top, as hereinbefore described. These plates 12 and 13 are preferably set into grooves 15 in the top frame 9 and base-frame l, as shown.

1G 16 represent sliding doors upon the rear of the case, composed almost entirely of glass, as shown, just enough wood being used as is consistent with strength. The upper ends of these doors are narrowed, as shown, and pa rtially Till the grooves 17, as shown. To remove the doors, the same are raised and the bottom swung outward from the grooves 2.

2O represents a marble or other suitable foundation upon which the case may be mounted.

Thus it will be observed that a case is produced wherein just enough wood is employed to insure strength and rigidity and to make a stylish, finished, and attractive appearance without the use of clamps, screws, or stops to secure the glass in position.

lVhile I have shown my invention as applied to a rectangular case, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to Vsuch a type of case, as the same may be round or of any desired shape. It is also obvious that many modiiications will suggest themselves to any one skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1.. In a show-case, the combination with a base-frame, provided with grooves, posts or standards provided with radial grooves throughout their length, dowel-pins securing said posts to said frame, glass plates adapted to be slid into said grooves from their upper ends, a grooved top frame, adapted to be secured upon the top oi' said posts, and into which said glass plates tit, a felt strip cement ed upon the upper side of said top frame, and a glass top plate cemented upon said strip, substantially as described.

2.` In a show-case, the combination with a` base frame, posts or standards supported thereby, glass side plates inserted between said posts, and a frame supported upon the tops ot' said posts; of a felt strip cemented upon the upper side of said frame, and a glass top plate laid upon and cemented to said felt strip, substantially as described.

3. In a show-case, the combination with a baseframe,coruer posts or standards su pported upon said frame, glass side plates adapted to tit in `grooves in said posts, and a frame se cured upon the tops of said posts, and grooved upon its under side to receive the tops oi' said side plates; of a felt strip cemented to the upper side ot' said frame, and a glass top plate cemented to the top of said felt strip, substantially as described.

Lt. In a show-ease, the combination with a base-frame,corner posts or standards supported upon saidframe, glass side plates adapted to slide in grooves in said posts, and a rectangular frame secured upon the tops of said posts encircling the top of the case, and provided upon its under side with grooves adapted to receive the tops of said side plates; of a heavy felt strip cemented to the upper side of said frame, and a glass top plate cemented upon the top of said felt strip, in such manner that said top plate may be removed by the insertion of a knife-blade or the like through said felt to separate said felt into two strips, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature iu the presence of two witnesses.

LAYVRENCE J. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

li. C. Routines, G. Y. TIIoRrn. 

